Type-writer carriage-return mechanism.



ms cam 'N. L; ANDERSON. 7 TYPE WRITER 0113mm]: RETURN MECHANISM.

' Patented 0ct'.6,1908.

APPLICATION IILED JAN. 29, 1908. 900,642.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

N. L. ANDERSON. TYPE WRITER CARRIAGE RETURN MEGHANISM .INVENTOR ATRM'EW Patented Oct. 6,1908. 3 SHEETS-SHEET Z APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 29, 190B.

N. L. ANDERSON.

TYPE WRITER CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

APPLIOATIONPILED JAN. Z9, 1908. 900,642.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mom/1%.

NEAL LAIRKINV ANDERSON, or WINSTON SfiLEM, NORTH CAROLINA.

TYPE-WRITER CARRIAGE-RETURN MEcHANIsM.

Specification of Le ters Patent.

, Patented on. 6, reps.

Application filed Jamiary'ZS, 1908. Serial No. 413,264.

To all who'in'ii may concern:- 1

Be it known that I, NEAL LARKIN ANDER- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winston Salem, in the county of Forsyth, in the State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Typei Vriter Carriage-Return Mechanism; and I do hereby'declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same. i

' The object of my invention is to produce a vation of my improved mechanism applied.

to a typewriter, of which the adjacent parts are shown. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same parts; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same parts; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.

5 is a cross-section on line '5-5 of Fig. 1,; looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. i

6 is a front elevation of the-carriage-return and braking keys; Fig. 7 is a detail of the mechanism for holding down the carriagereturn key; Fig. 8 is a detail of the clutch mechanism for the motor; Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations pf theterminal stand looking in the directions indicated by the arrows on Fig. 3; Fig. 11 is a diagram of the circuit )connections when the machine is oper. ting on an alternating current circuit, and F1g..

12 is a similar diagram when the machine is operating on a direct current circuit.

The electric motor A has keyed to its shafta drum 1 forming one part of a ratchet clutch mechanism.

Mounted on the motor shaft and capable of sliding thereon is the Winding drum 2 which (-arrlcs the other part ot the ratchet. clutch mechanism and on which the band or the typewriter, is wound.

satisfactory electrically operated carriage re, turn mechanism for typewriters and 81111113! is depressed.

rope 3, which is connected to the carriage of For the purpose of shifting the winding drum 2 toward the drum 1 against the action motor between the parts of the clutch, so that the two portions of the clutch mechan 'ismengage one another and the winding the arm 4- to the position itidicated in the drawin s, that is}, thef clutchl; releasing position, a er that arm hasbee 'n brought into the clutch-engaging p'ositionf, by the depres sion ofthe carriage-return key. At the rear end of thecarriage-return key B is a contact piece lfl-which serves to close tli'ecircuit of the electric motor; so that when the ear" 'riage-return key is depressed the electric motor is started and at the same time the is red is secured the of the spring coiled on the shaft of the two portions of the clutch are brought into For the purpose of holding down the can 'riage-return key after it has been depressed and until the carriage reaches itsfull return position, or nearly that, the bent lever 11 (see Fig. 7) is pivoted to a bracket 12 secured to the frame of the motor, and con nected between this lever and the bracket is a spring'13 which tends to turn the lever in such a direction as to swing its lower end, carrying the fitlJllSiTtlbl'Q notched plate 14,

over the, carriage-return key when that key For the purpose of releasing the key to break the circuit of the motor and disengage the members of'thc clutch at anydesired point before the end of the return movement, I provide the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, from which it will be seen that the cud ot' the lever 11 extends beneath a frame 15 the lateral arms of which have hubs surrounding the'margin-stop od 1(iso that the frame n'iay swing on that rod.

Adjustably secured to the n'mrgin-stop rod is a tripping -nm-piccc1.17 tin cud oi which .lies above the longitudimilly crtcnding bar Q2 scones of the frame 15. The abutmentlS carrying the pin 19 1s securedto, or adjacent to, the ordmary scale-pointer onthe carriage; so

that this abutment moves With the carriage.-

When the carriage-return key has been de-, pressed and the lever 11 swung into its hold ing position by the spring 13 the end of that lever raises the frame 15 and with it the cam-piece 17, so that as the carriagereturns the pin 19 engages the cam and depresses the frame 15 and the end of the lever 11 to release the carriage-return key. 13y adjusting the position of the cam-piece l? the circuit of the motor may be broken and the clutch disengaged at any desired point before the end of the return movement, and thereby the carriage may be brought to rest without objectionable jar.

To prevent a back lash of the drum 2 and a consequent loosening of the cord 8 when the carriage comes to rdst, the idler cog- Wheel 20 is mounted to rotate on a stub shaft 21 extending from the frame of the motor and a coiled spring 22 surrounds this stub shaft and is attached at one end to the motor and at the other end to the cogwheel. The cog-Wheel 2O meshes with the cog-wheel 23 Whioh forms one head of the drum By this arrangement of parts the spring 22 tends to turn the cog-Wheel 20 and through it the cog-wheel 23 in such a direction as to keep the cord 3 tight, and the cog wheel 20 is broad enough to remain in engagement with the cog-wheel 23 when the drum 2 is shifted back and forth from its unclutching to its clutching position.

It Will be observed that the spring and the spring 9 coiled on the shaft 5 will tend to return the carriage-return key to its upper position but to insure the quick and positive return of this key, I provide the additional coiled spring 24 extendin from the end of the bracket 12 to the carriage return key.

The mechanism thus far described provides for the-return of the carriage to the end of its movement, but for the purpose of returning the carriage after it has advanced toward the left but a short distance (that is, whena short line has been written) or for returning the carriage through but a portion of its return movement, I provide the brake key 0 which is pivoted at its inner end to'thetshaft 25 supported in the brackets 26, to which shaft is also pivoted the cu.r-

3 riage return key B. Secured to this brake f key is a bar 27 which is pivoted at its upper end to the end of a pivotedobrake bar E28, which is in turn pivoted to a stub shaft 9 extending from the motor frame and which lcalries a brake-shoe 3O engaging the upper surface of a hub on the drum 2, and capable of exerting a brakin z' pressure thereon when the brake-key is depressed. It is desirable to provide an arrangement by which the de pressing of the brake hey also depresses the carriage-return key to close the motor circuit and engage the members of the clutch, and also mechanism which puts the latching lever 1.1 out of operation when the brake key is depressed, so that if it is desired lo return the carriage through only a portion of its movement the brake key may be depressed forthis purpose suilieicntly to start the motor and the drum 2 and then may be fun ther depressed to stop the motor and drum by its braking action, and at the same time withhold the latch on the lever ll so that the carriage-return key may rise freely wbcu the brake key is released. For the purpose of carrying down the carriage-rctinn key a bar 31 is secured. to the l ake key and extends above the carriage return key, as indicaicd most clearly in Fig. 33. For the purpose of putting the latching lcvcrll out of operation, or releasing it if it has already moved to its locking position, I attach to that lever a pin 32 (see lfig. 2), and to the brake-key I attach a bent bar ill-l which. \vhcu the brakekey is deprcsscd, engages the pin 32 and holds the lever ll in its disengaging position.

In order to apply the brake it is necessary to depress the brake key further than the circuit-closing position, and vet it is dcsirable that there should ordinarily be a definite stop for the carriage return key when it has reached the circuit closing position. For this purpose I pivot in the frame ill (see Figs. 4: and 6) a bent plate 35 which is hold in the position shown in the'figures by spring 36. The lower surface of the end of the carriage return key is straight so that when it engages this bent plate its I'XIOYQIUOIH. is stopped. The [:OITQSPODdiIlg surface of the brake key C, however, is beveled so that When that key is depressed the plate 3;) is turned on its pivot, allowing the brake key and carriage return key to be further dcpressedpto apply the brakes, and if desired this 'ange of movement may be suiiicicuito open the circuit of the motor.

The operation oi this mechanism then is as "follows: For the purpose of fully returning the carriage the carriagercturn, key ll (lepi'csscrt'oiosing the circuit of the motor and engaging the. clutch, and at thc same time the lever 11 swings over the carriage return key to hold it in ts depressed posit ion until the pin 19 dep ses the (mm-piece I? releasing the carriage return lrcy. and allowing: it to open the circuii oi the motor and lisou; 'c the clutch. if it is desired to re turn the carriage through only :1 portion oiits movem nt the ln'akc-hcy is doprcsscd carrying down with it the bandage-rot:u'u key to close the circuit of the motor and cngage the clutch, but by means of the arm 33 and pin 32 the llf-v'll l1 prevented from swinging into its holding position. The further depression of the brake key beyond l l O lit) ce ses the normal range of movement of .the carriage return key serves to apply the brake, so that the effective power of the motor is reduced when the motor is used to return the carriage through a portion of a:]ine only.

The brake key C is also employed for returning the carriage through a short line}? that is, when the carriage has traveled but a short distance toward the left. In such case the depression of key C carries with it the carriage return key and closes the circuit of the motor and clutches the motor to the winding drum, and at the same time, by the further depression of key G the brake is applied to the motor, thus reducing its elfective power when it is used for short line work. .lt will be observed, furthern'ioreythat the supplen'iental key C may be used to return the carriage to any desired point of the line independently of the braking mechanism. Thus if the supplemental key 0 is depressed it will carry down with it the carriage-return key and start the motor on its return movement, but at the same time the latch which normally holds down the carriage return key when it is depressed, is rendered ineffective by the supplemental key, so that when the supplemental key is released the carriage-return key returns at once to its initial position thereby at once opening the circuit oi the moto' and unclutching it from the carriage. The carriage is thus brought to rest.

In view of the fact that carriage-return n'iechanism of the type contemplated may be called upon for service in places Where an alternating electric current alone is avail able, or in places where a direct current alone is available, it is highly desirable that the motor for returning the carriage should. be capable of successful operation on either an alternating or a direct current. Further more, l. have discovered that for the successful return oi a typewriter carriage under all conditions of service a motor should be employed having peculiar properties, orv at least one operated under peculiar and abnormal conditions. For this service it is necessary, if the thing is to be a success,

therefore, reaches the end of the return movement without an ob ectionable ar or shock, which is at first sight incompatible with the employment of a considerable power. I have found that this result may he successfully accomplished by employing, on a ca nstant-potential direct-current circuitof rclatively high voltage such as the ordi nary 120 volt circuit for lighting purposes, a series motor having characteristics such that the cilort incident to the return of the the motor at. the motors rated speed, so

that nt starting a heavy flow of current passes through the motor developing'a considerable torque to quickly start the motor, and yet as the motordrives the carriage 'toward its return position, it does not develop an excessive speed. For example, a series motor designed to drive a light load at high speed will have a comparatively weak field, which means, if the motor is properly designed, that a comparatively small current through its fieldwindings will saturate its fieldpoles; such a motor will also have a comparatively small number of turns on its-armature and, therefore, a low armature. resistance. If such a motor is connected to a typewriter carriage which constitutes a material overload for the motor at the motors rated speed, then in the effort to start the carriage a heavy current will ,liow'through the motor (field and armature) very considerably stronger than is neces,

sary to saturate the field, and yet the excessive armature current reacting on the field at its maximum strength. will give the quick starting torque. As the carriage begins to move, under the conditions assumed, the motor is still materially overloaded and consequently the current, even after it is diminished by he counterelectromotive force generated by therotation of the armature, is in excess of that designed to saturate.the;-field, and consequently the motor does not have the common characteristics of a series motor, namely, a weakening-0f its field as the speed increases. The result is that the motor'does not develop an excessive speed under the load-of the carriage. In view of the fact that the starting is extremely quick the 'Whole return 'niovement has the desired rapidity and yet the jar upon the stopping of the carriage is not objectimiahle. I appreciate that such a motor could not run r'or any great length of time'uuder such a load without objectionable over-heating, but iii my arrangement the motor is operated only intermittently and is, therefore, capable of performing its F intended functions without injury.

I have found furlhernmre that, ii the same SQXIQSiTIOlOI' used on the direct-currentclrcuit is conncctcd on an alternatmg current circuit of substantially the same potcn tial, it will operate "successfully for the'pur; pose, provided only that on the alternating. current the resistance of the motor circuit be material diminished, thereby causing a relatively greater fiow of current through. the motor, or, as it may be otherwise expressed, under-winding the motor. I have discovered that this l'USlllt may be accmnplished in a very satisfactory way. and an ordinary dirm-bcurren. series motor employed on ii i altcrnating-ciu'rent circuit, provided the circuit connections of the motor arehave devised the terminal stand and ar-.

rangeinent of circuit connections illustrated inthe drawings. 7

The terminal stand 40 is mounted on the base-board carrying the motor in a' convenient position adjacent to the motor and such that the contact plate 10 on a carriage-return key is in position to control the circuit of the motor. This terminal stand is provided with sockets into which the terminals 41 and 42 of the external circuit are inserted. The socket receiving the terminal 4-1 is con nect/ed within the stand to the contact button 43, and when the plate 10 is in circuitclosing position button 43 is connected through that plate to the button H which is connected :within the stand to the binding screw 4 andalso to the button to which is connected hfy 'the wire 47 to a resistance coil 48 on the top of the stand from which the circuit extends to the motor.

In Fig. 12 the circuit is a series one through ones-halt of the iicld ot the motor. the armature, theother halt oi the field of the motor back to the switch it mounted on the base-hoard oi the motor and from thence through an adjustable resistance 50 back to the binding screw 51, which is connected to the socket for the terminal 42 from which the current passes again to the line.

In the case of Fig.- 11, which shows the connections for the alternating current, a wire is led from binding screw 45 to one brush of the intotor and a wire 53 frombinding screw 51 m the other brush of the motor, so that now the current tiows in throiwh the terminal it to the button 13 through conttit't plate 10 to button it beyond which itl'divides oneportion pass-- ing through the resistance 48 and onehalt of the field to out of the motor brushes and from there through the wire 53 to the binding' screw ii]. The other part passes from 44 to the binding screw 4-?) and throuo'h wire 52 to the other brush ot the motor where it again divides, one-halt passing through th armature and the wire :13 to bi iding screw at and the other halt through th second halt of the tie] l windings, the switch it), the adjustable resistance 50.nnd to binding screw 51, from which the reunited that merely by connecting the wires and;

to the binding screws 45 and 51 as shown in the drawings the motor is converted from a direct-current motor to an alternating-current motor. By this change of connections the direction of ilow oi the current through the armature of the motor is reversed when it is connected into the :ltcriiating-currcnt circuit, but nevertheless, I find that the motor rotates in the same direction as when it was connected in the dircct-currmit circuit. It will, of course, be understood that by thus connecting the circuits of the motor in parallel when it is placed in the alternat ing-currcnt circuit the resistance of tbc motor circuit is greatly reduced which. an bet'orc described, gives the desired opcrat inn; effect. in the type of motor which i have adopted for this purpose I have constructm'l the fields at a solid piece, rather than ot' laminations, since I have found that when so constructed the motor operates more satin taotorily. it is also 0t some advantage to make the armature core of a solid piece of metal instead of laminating it though lhi is not of so much importanc'.

it will be observed that with this arrange ment oi parts the motor is normaltv outfoti service and operates only intermittentl3 to return the carriage. That is to say, thc

--Inotor ciiruitis closed and thc motor is clutched to the winding drum by the same moven'ient ot' the carriagc-return key and. near the end of the return increment the motor is nut-hitched and its circuit. is opencd. liv this arrangement the carriage is entirely relieved of the momentum of the motor-"at the end of its return and is, therefore, more easily brought to rest.

i claim 1. in a typewriter carriage-return nicchair ism, a constant-potcutial series-wound cl c tric motor tor returning the carriag and means for connecting tl motor to the can riage, the carriage constituting; a material overload tor the motor at the niotor s rutc'i speed, wl'iercby the motor develops a high starting torquc.bntdocsnot attain an exces ive speed during the return ol' the carrnui' substantially as described.

2. in a. t 0\\'l'itt-1(:Ui'ltlQG-I'tilliilmocha!" ism. a constant-potcntiai series-wound chrtric motor for returning lhc carriag and means tor intermittently (losing the t'it'tlill. of the motor and connecting the moto to the carriage, t.- "e, carriage constituting a one tcrial overload for the motor at the motors rated speed, whereby the motor develops a, high starting torque, but. does not attain an excessive speed; substantially as described.v h

3. I n a ty c-wril er carriage-return mechanism, a co:1stant-potential serieswonnd electric motor for returning the carriage, means Jet) ' pressed the motor is actuated to return the carriage, a stop for limiting the downward movement of the carriage-return key to its actuating position, a brake for the motor, a supplement brake-key for applying the brake to thereby arrest the movement of the motor, connections whereby when the brakekey is depressed it carries with it the carriage return key, and mechanism associated with the brake-key for removing the stop which limits the movement of the carriage-return key; substantially as described.

15. 1n-a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, a motor having a strong initial impulse, mechanism for transmitting such impulse to' the carriage to impart a throw thereto,'and mechanism fordiscontinuing the action of the motor on the carriage beforethe end of the return movement, whereby the carriage is brought easily to rest. I i

16. In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, a motor having a strong initial impulse, transmission mechanism between the motor and carriage, mechanism for connecting the motor and transmission mechanism to return the carriage, and an adjustable stop for disconnecting the motor and transmission mechanism before the end of the return movement, whereby the carriage is brought easily to rest.

17. In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, an electricmotor having a high starting torque for returning the carriage,

- a carriage return key, connections whereby when the carriage return key is depressed the circuit of the motor is closed, and mechanism for automatically opening the circuit of the motor before the end of the return movement, whereby the carriage is brought easily to rest. i

18. In a carriage return mechanism for when the carriage return key is depressed the-circuit of the motor is closed, and an adjustable stop for automatically opening" the circuit of the motor before the end of' the return movement, whereby the carriage is brought easily to rest. 19. In a carriage return mechanismi ibr typewriters, the combination of-an electric motor having a high starting torque tmfil mission mechanism between the mothn and carriage, mechanism for connecting theinoa tor and transmission mechanism to return the carriage, and mechanism for disconnect: mg the motor and transmisslon mechanism near the end of the return movement,

whereby the carriage is relieved of the mo mentum of the motor.

20. In a carriage. return mechanism for eo esa motor having a high starting torque, transmission mechanism between the .motor and carriage, means for sinmltaneoudy connecting the motor and transmission mechanism and closing the circuit of the motor to return the carriage, and means for simultaneously disconnecting the motor and trans mission mechanism and opening theci'icuit of the motor near the end of the return movement.

21. In a typewriter carriage-return mech' anism, an electric motor fourcturning the carriage, a carriage-return key, connections whereby when the carriage return key is depressed the circuit of the motor is closed, a latch for automatically retaining the carriage return key in the circuit closing position, a stop in the path of movement of the carriage, which stop may be adjusted at will to different positions in which it is engaged by the carriage before the end of the return movement, and connections between the adjustable stop and the latch, whereby when the carriage engages the stop the latch is released at a predetermined point before the end of the return movement 22. In a carriage-return mechanism for typewriters, a motor for returning the car riage, mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor to the carriage to return it from any point in its range of movement, and means for reducing the efi'ectivepower of the motor when it is used to return the carriage through a short portion only of its range of movement;

In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, a motor for returning thecarriage, a carriage return key which when depressed renders the motor effective to return the carriage, and means for reducing the effective power.- 6f the motor when the carriage return key is depressed during the last portion of the return movement.

typewriters, an'electric motor having a high starting torque for returning the carriage, a carriage return key, connections whereby" 2a. In a typewriter carriage-return mechanism, an electric motor for returning the -'car riage, a carriage return key, connections whereby when the carriage-return key is dd pressed the circuit of the motor is closed and the motor is connected to the carriage, a.

latch-to; automatically retaining the car- ,r1age'return key 111 its circuit-closing p0r$ltion, a stop in the path of movement of the carr age, which stop may be adjusted at will to different positions in which it is engaged I ;,bytl 1 e carriage before the end of the return l moveiiienh-and connections between the ad.- :justatnstepana the latch, whereby when -the, carriagefengages the stop the latch is re leased a't-a predetermined point before the substantially anism, an e ectric motor for, returning the carriage, a carriage-return key, connections whereby the depression of the said key closes the circuit of theelectric motor and connects the motor to the carriage, a latch for retain "ing the cerriage-return,key in its circuitclosing position, a supplemental key, con

1 ne'ctions between the supplemental key and the carriage-return key, whereby when the supplementel key is depressed it carries with it the carriage-return key, and mechanism Q connected to the carriage-return 'key to render the latch inoperative when that enism, the combination with thetypewriter carriage, V of a constant potential electric motor-sh rated with respect to the typewriter carriage as to have a strong field and heavy armature current at starting, whereby a.

high starting torque is developed, and in which the field is maintained substantially constant throughout the range of movement of the carriage, whereby an excessive speed is prevented, and mechanism for connecting the motor to the carriage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses:

W. C. IDOL, J. F. Bnownn, J r.

NEAL LARKIN ANDERSON. 

